Editor's Note: Special Occasion

It doesn’t take much for us to hold a celebration here at Ohio Magazine: the successful launch of a new project, the completion of a big issue, editorial awards, holidays, birthdays, Friday … you name it.

To properly mark the occasion, we decided to showcase what has been the key to our success: Ohio itself — the multifaceted people and places that readers have found so fascinating for three and a half decades.

To compile our list of 35 reasons to celebrate the state, the editors brainstormed, and then asked for more ideas from regular contributors, tapping into their knowledge of particular topics and regions of Ohio. Then we asked for suggestions — via our Facebook page — from the people whose input we value most of all: our readers. You’ll find the resulting article on page 68.

To get a sense of how Ohio Magazine has evolved, we took a look back at some of the magazines we have published over the years. The first issue in April 1978 focused on political, social and media topics, but also introduced departments on restaurants, arts and books. Later, travel and entertainment were added to the mix. In the last decade, the tagline on our cover, “The beauty. The adventure. The fun.” has guided our efforts to capture in vivid photos and words our state's remarkable assets.

We suspect our readers have additional reasons to celebrate Ohio. Please share them with us by emailing editorial@ohiomagazine.com or visiting our Facebook page at facebook.com/ohiomagazine.

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April marks not only our anniversary, but also our semiannual foray into Amish Country. Warning: Don’t read “Baked to Perfection” (page 93) on an empty stomach. Jill Sell’s words and Jane Rogers’ images may compel you to head to Miller’s Bakery in Millersburg ASAP.

Jill and Jane arrived at the Holmes County favorite in the early-morning hours to watch workers as they prepared breads and sweets, then stayed to watch the baked goods fly off the shelves.